Oregon Senate vote sends legislation to Gov. Brown; fund guarantees advocacy in ratemaking proceedings.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission will be empowered to approve discounted utility rates for low-income customers under a bill that is headed to Gov. Kate Brown.
House Bill 2475, which the Senate approved without amendment on an 18-11 vote Thursday, May 13, also allows access to a fund by advocates of low-income households or communities disproportionately affected by environmental pollution that participate in PUC proceedings. The fund is capped at $500,000 annually.
A coalition known as Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity supports the bill to help energy-burdened consumers, defined as low-income households that pay 6% or more of their monthly income on electric and gas service.
Little Kits Early Learning Program in Bend to receive funds, help expand child care
(Update: adding video, comments from Bend Chamber of Commerce)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) –The Little Kits Early Learning Program, a new child care program planned in Bend, is one step closer to becoming a reality.
State Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, announced Monday that $1 million of funding from the American Rescue Plan will be used toward creating the student and parent child care program for OSU-Cascades and Central Oregon Community College students and staff.
Katy Brooks, president of the Bend Chamber of Commerce, says child care is a big issue, especially in adults trying to return to school.
SALEM â A long-simmering feud among Oregon Senate Republicans surfaced on Wednesday, May 5, with the introduction of a bill pitting the main factions of the 11-person caucus against each other.
Senate Bill 865, co-sponsored by Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, would make it a fineable offense to serve simultaneously as a state officeholder and an officer of a state central committee of a political party. Violators would be fined $250 per day. The bill has a clause that would make it law as soon as it was signed by the governor.
While generic in its official language, the billâs most immediate effect is to challenge Sen. Dallas Heard, R-Roseburg, who earlier this year was elected chair of the Oregon Republican Party. It would also take aim at Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, a Heard ally who was elected the state GOP party treasurer.
Oregon lawmakers give final OK to bill on gun safe storage, ban from Capitol
MGN
Legislation now goes to Gov. Brown s desk; Knopp cast no vote
SALEM, Ore. (AP) The Oregon Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would mandate safe storage of guns and ban them from the state Capitol. Republican lawmakers strenuously objected, saying they and others will be deprived of the ability to defend themselves.
The bill, named for Cindy Yuille and Steve Forsyth, who were slain in a shooting at a Portland-area shopping mall in 2012, passed the House last week and goes to Gov. Kate Brown for signing. It aims to prevent accidental shootings by children, suicides and mass shootings.